Prison staff in Bremen prepare for a warning strike next Monday due to collective bargaining negotiations in the public sector of federal states. The Verdi union is leading the charge, with around 70 employees expected to participate. The union claims there's a shortage of applicants in the prison system, with employees opting to resign, become sick, or seek other jobs.
Verdi and other unions are pushing for a 10.5% salary increase and a minimum boost of 500 euros per month. Junior staff should receive an extra 200 euros. However, the Tarifgemeinschaft deutschen Länder has rejected these demands. The United Services Union is also involved in these negotiations, seeking similar wage hikes in the penal system.
The potential escalation of this warning strike into full-blown strikes across various correctional facilities is a possibility if demands for higher tariffs aren't met. The penal system in Germany is currently grappling with a significant exodus of employees from prisons like Bremen, necessitating urgent action during the collective bargaining process.
The consequences of this strike could have far-reaching impacts, potentially affecting the functioning of correctional facilities and the well-being of inmates. It might also highlight wider issues in the labor market and employment in the prison system.
While the specifics of the collective bargaining negotiations and their impact are not readily detailed in the provided sources, broader social and labor policies can provide a context. For instance, political parties in Germany support collective bargaining agreements, minimum wages, job placement, and comprehensive healthcare. Tightening immigration policies might indirectly impact negotiations, too.
